The Evidence That Makes The ‘Bernie Bro’ Smear Look All The Worse

[yuiyoshida]

There’s strikingly little evidence to indicate Bernie Sanders’ supporters are particularly sexist. By contrast, there’s every reason to think Clinton’s campaign has pushed the talking point, writes Michael Brull.

Last week I argued that there was some evidence that Hillary Clinton’s campaign was connected to the tawdry smears of the “Bernie Bros”. These were claims that Sander’s supporters are white males, whose political views and actions are driven by sexism. This worked as an effective way to claim the moral high ground for Clinton supporters, without Clinton needing to support or offer any relevant policy concessions. It served to divert attention from Clinton’s reactionary and imperialist policies, and from the scrutiny Clinton has been under for the millions of dollars she has received from Wall Street for her speeches to the big banks. Yet the Clinton campaign’s cynical manipulation of the issue of sexism for partisan gain, whilst serving the interests of America’s one percent, has mostly escaped critical scrutiny.

Since writing my article, I’ve come across some more evidence that I think corroborates my thesis.

In my article, I noted that Clinton herself mostly avoided accusations of sexism. Trump’s gratuitous insults to women are legion, but Clinton has mostly avoided accusing him of sexism, other than recently riffing off his accusation that she plays the woman card. Clinton also implied Sanders was being sexist for saying in a debate that it was not constructive to shout about gun policy. I argued that Clinton had mostly avoided these kinds of claims because accusations of sexism, particular accusations regarded as unwarranted and politically motivated, can result in serious declines in male support.

https://newmatilda.com/2016/05/09/the-evidence-that-makes-the-bernie-bro-smear-look-all-the-worse/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

[catnhatnh]

1. Wow-just fuckin' WOW!

This post is bound to be buried by Hillary supporters posts that apologize for believing the "Bernie Bro" hoax now that it has been exposed.

[mindwalker_i]

2. The reason for this is very simple

Hillary doesn't have any ideas on which to run for president, unlike Bernie who is running to change the economic "situation" of increasing income inequality and accompanying fraud. Her whole campaign is about being the first woman president. So she's about fighting sexism, and threw in racism since they are closely related.

Trump comes along and is the perfect person for her to run against. He says a bunch of shit that sexist and racist, and she is fighting against him. He's a straw man made into a little boy, and it giver her campaign a life it wouldn't otherwise have had. Bernie comes along and her campaign is definitely not set up to deal with him. The solution is to make him into Trump, or a close relative. The "Bernie Bro" things was invented by Hillary to make Bernie into what she's fighting.

Will this make a good president?

[Baobab]

8. Of course its a total fabrication. There is one candidate who laughed at a 12 yo.rape victim though.

And its on tape

The real Hillary Clinton

[cantbeserious]

3. Surprise, Surprise

eom

[ebayfool]

4. Spot on! It’s almost as though Clinton’s campaign cynically crafted a dog whistle.

snip/

It’s almost as though Clinton’s campaign cynically crafted a dog whistle. It appeals to Democrat voting women in the primaries, in a way that seems feminist, without offering any real concessions to women. It also offers plausible deniability, as Clinton herself stays at a respectable distance from the smears, which have crumbled under every empirical study attempted thus far. Clinton doesn’t lose any popularity for attacking Sanders, or for using the issue of sexism for narrow political gain.

It’s very likely at this point that Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. Whatever effectiveness these tactics have had, any subsequent exposure to them may affect public perceptions of feminism, and the legitimacy of Clinton if she wins the presidency. Her backers on Wall Street, by contrast, are unlikely to be too troubled by her campaign’s tactics.

[Raster]

5. "...almost as though Clinton's campaign cynically crafted a dog whistle."

There is NO "almost as though" to it. The Clinton campaign smear masters knew exactly what they were doing.

[arikara]

6. They are going to find out to their great chagrin

That the Bernie supporters will not move over to Mrs Clinton easily after being treated like shit. Especially with her now triangulating right, in other words showing her true colours already.

[Baobab]

9. It has nothing to with being treated liks shit and everything to do with the fact that she's evil

For example, listen to her laughing at a 12 year old gang rape victim here.

Since she is pretending to be a caring human being when she clearly isn't, this issue is relevant.

[arikara]

10. You are absolutely right

We came
We saw
He died AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[silvershadow]

7. K&R. nt